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Biological Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position serves at a Research Station in a Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Work Unit located in Anchorage, AK.

The FIA program is charged with conducting a nationally-consistent, strategic annual forest inventory of the United States and its territories which collects, processes, analyzes, evaluates, and publishes comprehensive information on forests.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kate Legner at 907-242-8716 or kate.legner@usda.gov

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/19/2021 to 05/24/2021
Salary
$48,852 to - $77,681 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
Anchorage, AK
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel 3 or fewer times per year to other Forest Service offices or field locations and attend other professional meetings.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-RES-11109875-DP-JS
Control number
601922700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to the public

Duties

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  • Maintain knowledge of the Forest Inventory and Analysis program, field procedures, and data collection methods.
  • Assist state coordinators in planning operations to meet short and long-term objectives including travel logistics, training, scheduling, field access permits, and cost-tracking.
  • Identifies and controls hazardous conditions and procedures through risk assessments and mitigating actions. Promptly prepares and submits injury and illness reports.
  • Assist in determining the type, amount, and location(s) of work to be accomplished and maintaining unit safety while exploring efficiencies.
  • Serve as a data collection crew member or crew leader only occasionally as needed to maintain knowledge of operations and as agreed upon by the supervisor, ensuring safety, data quality, and efficiency.
  • Communicate with external agencies and landowners to enlist cooperation, collaboration, and support in conducting field inventory activities.
  • Assist in organization and maintenance of spatial data and occasionally produce maps
  • Must possess and be able to maintain a valid state drivers license.
  • Duties are listed at the full performance level (GS-09).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must possess and be able to maintain a valid state Driver's License.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirements for Biological Sciences Series, 0401: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/

Degree: successfully completion of four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position.

--OR--Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience at this level is defined as 52 weeks in 3 out of 4 of the following:

  • Interpreting standard natural resources data collection procedures and ensuring that data is in compliance with established protocol.
  • Assisting with scheduling, travel arrangement, budget, or equipment inventory databases, and/or other comparable software and systems.
  • Assisting with development of maps or organization and maintenance of geospatial data.
  • Assisting in the production and communication of outreach materials for engaging with collaborators, partners, clients, or stakeholders.
OR

One full year of graduate level education. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work in fields such as forestry, forest ecology, botany, biology, ecology, natural resource management, or environmental science.

OR

An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site determine if you are eligible: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

GS-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience at this level is defined as 52 weeks in 4 out of 5 of the following:
  • Interpreting standard natural resources data collection procedures and ensuring that data is in compliance with established protocol.
  • Completing scheduling, travel arrangement, budget, or equipment inventory databases, and/or other comparable software and systems.
  • Developing maps or organization and maintenance of geospatial data.
  • Production and communication of outreach materials for engaging with collaborators, partners, clients, or stakeholders.
  • Providing technical assistance on administrative matters including topics such as scheduling, travel arrangement, budget or equipment inventory, tracking the status of projects, and making recommendations on administrative process improvements.
OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., in related fields described above for GS-7. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing is not available

Daycare facilities are not available


This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Salary will be adjusted to include a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). Over time, locality will be phased in and a gradually reducing COLA will continue to be paid after the three year phase in period. See the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates for additional information.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11109875

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